Psychological and Biological Influences on Gender Roles

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Abstract

Gender identity and gender roles are complicated phenomena that are likely impacted by biology as well as psychosocial influences. Nature and nurture are commonly seen as opposing forces, when, in reality, they work in concert, and our environments influence our biological processes. Due to historical factors, current research into how gender identity is shaped primarily focuses on the effects of hormones on neurobiology. Adult hormone levels do not seem to influence gender identity, but there is some evidence that intrauterine hormone exposure may. There is also evidence that psychosocial factors contribute to gender identity. As we continue to explore the basis for our multifaceted identities, we should bear in mind that we are more than just a sum of our parts.

Keywords

5-Alpha reductase deficiency (5-ARD) Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BSTc) Biased-interaction theory Birth-assigned sex Bisexuality Bucket model Cisgender Cloacal exstrophy Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) Diethylstilbestrol (DES) Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) Endocrine disruptors Female-to-male (FTM) Fractional anisotropy (FA) Functional MRI (fMRI) Gender Adult hormone levels Animal studies Biological theories Biopsychosocial models Brain, structural and functional imaging of Environmental influences Genetic influence Histological studies History Identity Intrauterine hormone exposure Medications and environmental estrogens Prenatal hormone levels Presentation Roles Social environment Societal norms Transgender Intersex Interstitial nucleus of the anterior hypothalamus (INAH) Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Male-to-female (MTF) Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) Sexuality Trans men Trans women Transgender 
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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media New York 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of PsychiatryMount Sinai Icahn School of MedicineNew YorkUSA

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